The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A significant year for the Transport Department

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Wednesday, Dec 31, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

A significant year for the Transport Department

Anil Kumar Sastry

Two of its long-pending requirements were given go-ahead by Government

96 inspectors of motor vehicles recruited during the year
Rs. 18 crore sanctioned for improving infrastructure
TRANSPORT

BANGALORE: The year 2008 was significant for the Transport Department as two of its long-pending requirements were given the go-ahead by the Government.

Nothing more could have been noteworthy than the recruitment of 96 inspectors of motor vehicles (IMVs) during the year. This was a record as not a single IMV was appointed during the last 20 years mainly because of a lobby within the Department which opposed fresh recruitment.

Controversy

The selection process too was not devoid of controversy. After a legal battle regarding eligibility conditions, the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) sent the final select list of 145 candidates to the Department in March 2008. However, it took a few more months before Transport Minister R. Ashok firmly gave the go-ahead to the Department to issue appointment orders.

After a thorough medical examination of selected candidates, the Department rejected 37 candidates because they had either colour blindness or poor eyesight or did not measure up to the prescribed height.

After the appointment orders were issued all these IMVs, who are on probation, are undergoing training at the Police Training Academy, Mysore. Hitherto they were offered the training meant for police personnel. However, due to the initiative of Transport Commissioner Bhaskar Rao, a separate syllabus is drawn for the training.

Computerisation

The Department lagged behind in exploiting the advent of information technology in its functioning despite its frequent claims on IT during the last one decade. Again the stumbling blocks were from within as a majority of the officers and inspectors did not like transparency despite the many advantages IT offered.

Finally, the Cabinet cleared the proposal of computerisation on public-private partnership basis and the Department issued orders to Rose Marta. This consortium will provide the required hardware, digitise the legacy data and issue smart card-based driving licences and registration certificates. By June, it is expected to complete the computerisation work.

Infrastructure

The year also saw the Department getting Rs. 18-crore grant from the Government for creating the required infrastructure in the form of driving tracks and office buildings.

Utilising the grant, the Department has already commenced construction of eight buildings for regional transport offices and six driving tracks across the State. Part of this amount is also being used to acquire sites for offices in Bangalore and Mysore. One more RTO was opened in Mysore as Mysore (East) RTO this year.

The Department is in the process of identifying autorickshaw drivers to pay subsidy of Rs. 10,000 being offered by the Government to purchase four-stroke autorickshaws in lieu of two-stroke autorickshaws registered before April 1991.

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